Australia's top 3 university to halt international student admissions next year

By Minh Nga November 11, 2024 | 03:26 pm PT

A campus of The University of New South Wales. Photo courtesy of the university

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) has announced a temporary pause on international student admissions for 2025, placing applicants on a "waiting list" with available spots to be released gradually for programs with remaining capacity.

The decision, recently posted on UNSW's website, is seen as a proactive measure in response to the Australian Government's plan to limit international enrollments starting in 2025, following proposed amendments to the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act, which governs the provision of education to overseas students on student visas in Australia.

Under the new policy, UNSW is restricted to enrolling 9,500 new international students, a 14% reduction from 2023 and a significant decrease from this year's estimated intake of over 17,000 students.

A university spokesperson informed The PIE News that, to prevent surpassing its enrollment cap, UNSW is introducing "a waitlist for 2025 international admissions with merit-based offers to be released progressively for programs where there is still availability."

The spokesperson added that demand for UNSW has been "unprecedented" in recent years, driven by the university's program quality and growing reputation, and that without pre-emptive action, the university "could risk exceeding the proposed cap."

UNSW, recently ranked 19th globally in the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds, currently ranks third in Australia.

It is not the first institution to take preventive measures ahead of the proposed international enrollment restrictions. In September, the Australian Catholic University announced it would halt international admissions for 2025 after reaching its cap.

The ESOS amendment bill has sparked debate with proposed reductions in international student quotas for 15 of Australia's 38 public universities, including top institutions such as the Australian National University and the University of Melbourne. The bill is set for debate in the Australian Senate on Nov. 18, and, if passed, will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

Australia remains one of the most popular destinations for international students. According to the Department of Education, nearly 944,000 international students were in Australia as of July, marking an over 14% increase compared to the same period last year. Vietnam ranks fifth, with over 44,000 international students in the country.